You pick up AK
AJ107J6
AQ983. 19 points with two suits
and you are going to bid. The dealer on your right opens 1
which is a nuisance. Do you bid your suit or double? Your left hand opponents
isthen going to overcall in s, and
s are supported to at least to 2,
your partner remains silent. over 2
wht do you do?

Interesting hand 24 replies

This is a strong hand,
at least by hcp’s (19) but odd shape , only 3 trick games in hand and on the
loosing trick count 5 but we have not found fit so cannot use this method
yet!

I would double over 1 diamond,
telling partner I have a hcp hand and a weakness in diamonds. Partner would
either, pass, or show their best suit. If partner showed more than 6 points
and good heart fit go to game, if a club fit stop at 3rd level
, as no point in pushing for 4.

A double is obvious but
I am so strong I might force partner with a bid of 2 diamonds. Later I am
going to show my heart suit or club suit if I am not out bid

What actually happened

Over the 1
opening I doubled, and this was overcalled by my RHO with 1.
Partner passed and spades were supported on my right. I decided that partner
is likely to have either a heart suit or a club suit, so I bid 3,
which was overcalled 3, and partner
re-evaluated her hand and bid 4 holding
1pt! Having a fit in both suits makes the combined hands so much stronger

4
makes. With no entry to dummy I cashed AK of hearts, and the Q fell. Played
the third heart to dummy’s J and led a low club finessing the Q. When that
held, cashed the ace and the K and J fell.. Contract made with an overtrick.
The only pair in game. Was it a good score, yes, but doubling 3 spades gets
it 2 tricks off, scores 500, instead of 450, so it could have been a bottom!